Temple Mask

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a venetian mask wherein the strap that holds the mask to the face is removed and replaced with two temple arms extending to on or around the ears of the wearer or sides of the head. The temple arms or devices secure the mask to the head in a more comfortable manner. Taking off and putting on a mask is now easy due to the inventions improvement.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION

The applicant claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser.No. 61/729053 filed 2012 Nov. 21 by the present inventor.

BACKGROUND PRIOR ART

The following is a tabulation of some prior art that presently appearsrelevant:

U.S. Patents Patent Number Kind Code Issue Date Patentee US 20130063694A1 Sep. 12, 2011 Robert B. Zider EP 0907094 B1 Dec. 28, 2005 StaffanPreutz U.S. Pat. No. 6,059,411 A May 9, 2000 Paul E. Moody EP 2096485 A1Sep. 2, 2009 Jean Doyon

-   -   Patent Application of Roland A. Smith Jr. for “Temple Mask”        continued page 2

Venetian masks, costume masks, Halloween masks, and super hero masks canbe worn during celebrations, parties, dances, theme events, holidaycelebrations and masquerade balls. These masks can conceal the identityof the wearer. Some venetian masks about the face currently utilize astrap or a stick to hold the item in place.

The strap destroys womens hair styles. The strap can matte, crease, andotherwise damage the hair when wrapped around the head. The strap alsoincreases heat in the area where the strap is located causing sweating.The damage increases over time. The damage increases when the strap istightened about the head. Sometimes large amounts of money are used forthe hair only to have it destroyed by the strap.

The strap is uncomfortable and can be painful. Long term social eventsare hindered by the strap if the user is in any discomfort. It might beimpossible to wear the strap for long periods of time. If you are at asocial event you might have to remove the mask due to the uncomfortablestrap. Someone might have to wear a venetian mask and be forced to be indiscomfort. At times the strap tangles the hair and or sticks the hairto the strap. When the mask is removed the strap pulls the hair causingpain.

The strap is not secure. Sometimes the mask falls off the face duringactivities. The hair sometimes has a tendency to slide the strap up ordown. This is especially common with women who have long hair.

A stick was invented attached to the mask to help hold the venetian maskto the face. This allowed the wearer to remove the strap. This doesn'tseem to complete the necessary improvement. The wearer can not hold thestick for long periods of time. The users arm gets tired and they haveto drop the mask from the face exposing their true identity.

An invention that could remove the strap would be a novel improvement.An invention that could remove the long stick used would be of a benefitto those wearing a the mask.

Nevertheless, the strap causes the wearer of a mask product to sufferfrom many disadvantages:

(a) The mask is uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time.

-   -   Patent Application of Roland A. Smith Jr. for “Temple Mask”        continued page 3

(b) The mask can permanently destroy or otherwise diminish a women'shair styles.

(c) The mask can cause pain both during use and when the strap isremoved from the head since hair sometimes get attached to the strap.

(d) The mask is not secure in that there is no anchor about the head forthe strap so it slides up and down and the mask can slide off itslocation about the face during activities.

(e) The mask is so uncomfortable that the weaker of a mask is alwaysreminded they are wearing a mask.

(e) It looks terrible and obvious.

SUMMARY

An improvement to the connection of a venetian mask to the headcomprising a hinge and a temple device affixed to the mask at the templearea on either side of the head and extending to on or around the earsof the wearer removing the uncomfortable strap or elastic strap or handheld stick normally used to hold a mask to the face. Taking off andputting on a mask is now easy due to the inventions improvement.

Advantages

Accordingly, several advantages are as follows: to provide a productthat is comfortable, that removes pain, that removes damages to womenshair styles, that is easy to take off and to put on, that removes thestick used to hold a venetian mask to the face, that can be worn forlong periods of time, and one that provides a more secure attachment tothe head.

DRAWINGS Figures

FIG. 1. shows the inventions improvement with the temple arms attachedto the temple area of a mask complete with a hinge to allow the templearm to bend or straiten.

FIG. 2. shows the invention made completely out of one piece of materialwith the hinge removed.

DRAWING REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   30 a mask body or frontal body or part 40 temple arm-   50 hinge    -   Patent Application of Roland A. Smith Jr. for “Temple Mask”        continued page 4

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 First Embodiment

One embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. Themask body or frontal body or part 30 is attached to a temple device 40similar to what holds sunglasses in place and to a hinge 50.

Operation—FIG. 1.

The manner of using the temple mask is identical to that for the use ofsunglasses. Simply unfold the temple arms or temple devices and placethe mask into the face. Remove the mask when desired. Fold the templearms or temple devices to facilitate storage of the invention in acontainer or box.

FIG. 2.—Alternative Embodiment

In an alternative embodiment, the mask body or frontal body or part 30and the temple arms or temple devices 40 are made out of one piece ofmaterial (like a tiara) removing the hinge and pivotal aspect of thetemple device. The invention is permanently shaped to cover the face andthe temple arms or temple devices are permanently shaped to attachen-ere around at the ears of the wearer.

Operation—FIG. 2.

Put the mask on about the face. Remove the mask when desired.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

Accordingly, the reader can instantly begin to see the novel improvementof the venetian mask by invention. The obvious importance for those whomanufacture and sell venetian masks, as well as for those who enjoymasquerading is apparent.

The comfortable improvement can be worn for long periods of time.Sometimes wearing a masquerade mask causes certain wonderful events tooccur between people. And the uncomfortable aspects of the mask canhinder these special events by shortening their occurrence or completelyremove them from happening altogether.

Time and money can now be spent to accent the hair and not have itdestroyed by

-   -   Patent Application of Roland A. Smith Jr. for “Temple Mask”        continued page 5        wearing an old venetian mask product.

A person, if they so desire, no longer needs to hold the mask to theface with a long stick. This ensures that their identity will be hidden.

In conclusion, by attaching two temple devices to a venetian mask a newand novel product has been generated. A comfortable masqueradedecoration that can be worn for long periods of time is now available.The invention also removes the stick (if desired) normally used to holda venetian mask in place freeing the hands to do other things. Theinvention allows for the venetian mask to be taken off and put back onwith ease. The inventions improvement is so fantastic that a human beingforgets they are even wearing a masquerade mask.

While the invention has been described in detail and with reference tospecific embodiments, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art thatvarious changes and modifications can be made therein without departingfrom the spirit and scope thereof.

Therefor, the scope of the invention should be determined by the claimsand their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given of itsconstruction by the inventor.

1-7. (canceled)
 8. A mask, consisting of: a mask body or frontal bodycovering and concealing the upper cheek bones, temple area, eye browarea and around the eyes of the wearer and a left and right lateraltemple arm extending to the ear (without an unsightly connection),tucked between the ear lobe and the head of the wearer, curved aroundthe back of ear.
 9. A mask, as claimed in claim 8, wherein the templearm can be custom made to fit the desired length needed to hold the maskbody snug to the face.
 10. A mask, as claimed in claim 8, wherein themask body can be decorated to become a venetian mask, super hero mask,decorated mask adornment, symbolized character, or a Halloween mask.